With widespread support across the sector, the Security Institute and the EY Foundation have together launched ‘Secure Futures’, a new employability programme designed to help break down barriers to employment for less advantaged young people wanting to begin a career in security.
The Secure Futures programme has been backed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the UK’s regulatory body for the private security industry, and is set to continue the EY Foundation’s ongoing work as a social mobility charity.
Expanding on the Security Institute’s #NextGen initiative, Secure Futures will support 27 16-18-year-olds from low-income backgrounds to access invaluable experience within the security industry, empowering them to consider pursuing careers working within the sector. The programme will be delivered virtually from February 2021, giving young people access to the wide range of careers on offer in security.
This is the EY Foundation’s first multi-employer collaboration, and thanks to the support of their sponsors from across the sector, the programme will involve a number of well-known organisations that will provide the 27 participants with paid work experience, opportunities to gain a variety of transferable skills, and mentoring from a security professional through 2021 to help them identify their next step.
The Institute highlights the vast number of roles available in the security sector, and is hoping the programme will introduce young people to the opportunities that stretch across personal, physical and cyber security.
The EY Foundation’s CEO, Maryanne Matthews’ said: “We are delighted to be working with the Security Institute and SIA on our first cross sector collaboration, bringing together businesses and industry bodies from across the sector to ensure the young people we support gain relevant skills and experience to access the jobs of the future in such an important and growing sector.”
Paul Barnard CSyP MSyI, Director of Youth Engagement at The Security Institute said: “We are pleased to be partnering with the EY Foundation to launch ‘Secure Futures’ Programme, which will make the security sector more accessible and attractive for young people. Young people are an essential component of our workforce. They offer a fresh perspective and insights that can inform innovative solutions to long-standing issues. There are so many areas of security that the younger generation can provide invaluable contributions towards, from the issues surrounding knife crime to emerging cyber-security threats. We need to embrace young people and help nurture their skills, to help secure the sector’s future prospects.”
Nathan Salmon, the SIA’s Criminal Investigations Manager said: “In recent years, the SIA has focused on investing confiscated funds (under the Proceeds of Crime Act) in skills and professionalism across the private security industry, particularly which opens career opportunities for young people. It is no surprise then that we have contributed to Secure Futures. This is an exciting partnership that will benefit young people, linking them with businesses within our industry. This is a great initiative which will support the industry’s next generation and we look forward to seeing the innovation and energy from all the young people taking part.”
Find out more about careers in security from the Security Institute.
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